Entertainment
This week's top 5: MJ drama, Drake's deal
By: Crystal P. Smith
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Fri, 07/03/2009 - 00:00
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Things happen each week that baffle us, amuse us, or just make us angry. Unfortunately, we can't respond to everything, so here's a quick roundup of five things that caught our attention this week.
1. The 2009 BET Awards aired Sunday with a Michael Jackson tribute. While the anticipation of the tribute gave it this year's highest-rated telecast, most people thought it was terrible, and that BET should have tried harder or done nothing.
2. Vibe is closing its doors, leaving behind only The Source and XXL to focus on black music. And with the outlook not good for Ebony and JET, I wonder about the future of the black media in general, and whether Quincy Jones, the founder of Vibe, will be able to save it.
3. Michael Jackson's body was supposed to be available for public viewing at his Neverland Ranch this week, but thankfully, that's been called off. As private as Michael was, he wouldn't have wanted that. The fans get his music; Isn't that enough? Those who think it's not can go to a public memorial planned for the Staples Center right here in Los Angeles.
4. Chris Brown and Rihanna have been ordered by the court to stay away from each other. He must remain at least 50 yards away and keep a distance of 10 yards if they're at the same event. Well, apparently the two crazy in love youngsters are looking to have the court order lifted, because they want to "work on their friendship."
5. Drake, the ever so popular rapper who didn't have a record deal but was everywhere anyway, signed with Young Money (Lil Wayne's label) for $4 million dollars. Apparently there was a bidding war and Lil Wayne was able to double Atlantic Records' deal. I mean, I like Drake and all but after seeing his performance at the BET Awards, I wasn't all that impressed.
Crystal P. Smith is TheLoop21.com's editor. She writes the Inside the Loop blog.
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COMMENTS
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I generally agree with Ms. Crystal Smith's review of the BET Awards "Tribute" to Michael Jackson. However, as a father of five daughters, I wish to add to her critique of "Drake" and the producers by calling for an investigation into the child abuse and endangerment of having young girls surround him as he sang what I thought were extremely inappropriate lyrics - a morally repugnant attempt at preconditioning the next generation of young women to sumbmit to misogyny too prevalent in our community and the larger society.
Yes, Crystal, it's about our collective lack of self respect, during and after Bob Johnson's ownership of BET. May each of us think about the example we are setting for an impressionable and precious young one who is watching.
Peace,
Granville